The Relationship between Left Ventricle Diastolic Dysfunction and Carotid Plaques in Elderly Patients with Ischemic Stroke

B ackground: A therosclerotic plaques in the carotid artery have been considered a potential source of cerebrovascular events.Carotid plaques are associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke.We performed this study to evaluate the relationship between atherosclerotic carotid plaques and cardiac function m easured by echocardiography in elderly patients w ith ischem ic stroke.Methods: A total of 415 patients aged >60 yrs with acute ischemic stroke were divided into two groups according to the presence (groups I, n=195, 140 males) or absence (group II, n=220, 112 males) of carotid plaques.We evaluated the asso ciation of the presence of plaques with age, sex, potential vascular risk factors, other carotid images, and cardiac function by echocardiography.Results: Of the 415 patients, carotid plaques were found in 195 cases.Mean plaque size was 2.44±0.7 mm on the right side and 2.32±0.75mm on the left.Plaques were located more frequently in the carotid bulb (68%) than in the common carotid artery (32%).57% were calcified plaques and 72%, multiple plaques.Group I (with carotid plaques) had a significantly higher percentage of males (73.6% , p<0.001), hypertension (68.5% , p=0.043), diabetes (28.7% , p=0.029), and dyslipidemia (60.1%, p=0.008).In addition, group I had thicker carotid IMT than group II (Right: 0.86 vs. 0.70 mm, p<0.001,Left: 0.90 vs. 0.73 mm, p<0.001), lower common carotid artery end diastolic flow velocity (Right: 13.37 vs. 15.73 m/s, p=0.002,Left: 14.46 vs.17.24 m/s, p=0.004), and higher E/E′level (11.57vs. 9.36, p=0.001).Old age, dyslipidemia, and diastolic dysfunction were independently associated w ith carotid plaques.Conclusion: O ur results indicated that old age, m ale gender, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidem ia are m ore comm on in patients with carotid plaques than in those without.O ld age, m ale gender, dyslipidem ia, and diastolic dysfunction are independent risk factors of carotid plaques in elderly patients with ischem ic stroke.W e further concluded that though left ventricle systolic function is not associated with carotid plaques in elderly patients with ischem ic stroke, left ventricle diastolic dysfunction is.